Sweater and Sweater Dress in Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed with Wool - 7796- Downloadable PDF

Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed Sweater and Sweater Dress Knitting Pattern 7796 – Detailed Pattern Summary

Pattern 7796 from Hayfield is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering two distinct garment designs worked in Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed with Wool: a classic Sweater Dress and a Sweater with Elongated Back. Both designs are crafted at an intermediate skill level and are sized generously to fit a wide range of figures, covering bust measurements from 81/86 cm (32/34 in) up to 132/137 cm (52/54 in), making this an inclusive and versatile pattern collection. The inclusion of larger sizes is a highlighted feature of this edition.

Design One: The Sweater Dress

The Sweater Dress is a full-length knitted dress worked in Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed shade 697. It is designed to sit at a flattering length ranging from 75 cm (29½ in) to 88 cm (34¾ in) depending on the size chosen, providing comfortable knee-length or midi coverage. The actual bust measurement of the finished garment ranges from 92 cm (36¼ in) to 143 cm (56¼ in), offering a relaxed, comfortable fit with positive ease across all sizes.

The dress features set-in or structured sleeves with an adjustable sleeve length of approximately 46–48 cm (18–19 in), allowing knitters to customize the fit to their preference. The textured stitch pattern, worked across the body of the dress, gives the garment visual interest and a rich, tactile quality that is characteristic of aran-weight designs.

Design Two: The Sweater with Elongated Back

The Sweater with Elongated Back is a contemporary knitwear design worked in Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed shade 709. Its defining feature is a deliberately longer back hem compared to the front, creating a modern, fashion-forward silhouette. The front length ranges from 60 cm (23¾ in) to 73 cm (28¾ in), while the back length extends to between 68 cm (26¾ in) and 81 cm (32 in) across the size range. This asymmetric hemline adds a stylish, relaxed drape that works well over leggings or slim trousers.

Like the dress, the sweater is worked with the same adjustable sleeve length and shares the same overall stitch architecture, ensuring a cohesive look across both designs in the pattern booklet.

Techniques and Construction

Both garments are knitted flat using standard knitting techniques and then seamed. The construction involves working separate front, back, and sleeve pieces before joining them. Key techniques used throughout this pattern include:

• Cable knitting – a central technique in both designs, using a cable needle to cross stitches and create rope or twist effects across the fabric
• Ribbing – worked on smaller 4mm needles for welts, cuffs, and neckbands to create a neat, elasticated edge that holds its shape
• Increasing and decreasing – used to shape the armholes, sleeves, and neckline for a well-fitted finish
• Stitch holder usage – stitches are placed on holders during neckline shaping, a common technique in structured garment knitting
• Tension/gauge checking – essential to achieving the correct finished dimensions, with the stated tension being 19 stitches and 26 rows to 10 cm over pattern on 5mm needles

Stitches Used

The stitch pattern combines classic aran textures with structured cable crossings. Specific stitches and cable definitions used in this pattern include:

• C4B (Cable 4 Back) – slip next 2 stitches to back on cable needle, knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle; creates a right-leaning 4-stitch cable rope
• C3R (Cable 3 Right) – slip next stitch to back on cable needle, knit 2, then knit 1 from cable needle; creates a right-leaning twist used in panel detailing